Puri: The pilgrim town of Odisha is being cleansed with chants, mantras, and offerings ahead of grand inauguration of Shree Mandira Parikrama Prakalpa (heritage corridor project).
The three-day yajna, which started on Monday with ‘Yajna’ and ‘Anukra Ropana’ ritual, will conclude around noon on Wednesday with Puri Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb, offering ‘Purna Ahuti’ between 1.30 and 2.30 pm. Simultaneously, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will dedicate the project to devotees.
According to sources, Brahmin and Vedic scholars have been chanting from Rig Veda at the Singhdwar (lion gate or the main entrance), Yajur Veda at southern gate, Sama Veda at western gate and Atharva Veda at the northern gate. The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration is also planning to play recorded music and chanting of sacred hymns every day to create a phantasmagorical atmosphere in the periphery of the 12th-century shrine.
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The state government has already announced public holiday on Wednesday to allow people to participate in the inauguration. Odisha Lalit Kala Akademi has also decided to conduct a daylong painting workshop at the site here, where 20 artists would make live paintings on the theme of Shree Mandira Parikrama Prakalpa.
Meanwhile, Director general of police (in-charge) Arun Sarangi accompanied by director (intelligence) Sanjeeb Panda visited Puri on Monday and finalised the security arrangements for the inauguration day. A four-layer security system will be in place in the town to ensure the safety of guests, devotees, and the smooth flow of traffic. At least 80 platoons of police forces, 100 senior supervisory officers, 250 officers of sub-inspector and assistant sub-inspector ranks would be deployed. These apart, three K9 units, four bomb detection and disposal squads, three dog squads, 167 CCTV cameras, an anti-sabotage team, and plain-clothed intelligence personnel will man the parikrama site.
“A special auditorium for 900 guests has been set up on the Parikrama. It is equipped with large digital screens for witnessing the inaugural ceremony. Electric vehicles will transport guests to the venue,” the DGP further said.
The town has also been beautifully decorated with flowers, lights, and graffiti. The night view of the town, illuminated with decorative lights on trees alongside roads, are adding to the breathtaking view.
The corridor project, executed at a cost of Rs 800 crore, incorporates parking areas, Shree Setu (a bridge), Shree Danda, running parallel to Bada Danda to ease pilgrim movement, pilgrimage centre, restroom facilities, clock rooms, and various other amenities for visitors in and around the Jagannath temple, now centred around an expansive 75-metre parikrama, which provides a clear view of the majestic 214.8 ft-high shrine and, its Neelachakra (blue wheel) on its pinnacle.
